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Two-piece wall plate for electrical device

  • US 5,073,681 A
  • Filed: 08/16/1990
  • Issued: 12/17/1991
  • Est. Priority Date: 08/16/1990
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A two-piece wall plate for installation with at least one electrical wiring device having a body portion with an outer face of predetermined peripheral outline and a mounting strap with end portions extending outwardly in opposite directions from said body portion, each of said end portions having at least two openings therethrough, one for passage of a first screw securing said wiring device to a junction box and the other for receiving a screw attaching a portion of said wall plate to said wiring device, said wall plate comprising:

  • a) a base plate comprising;

    i) integrally formed top, bottom and side first frame portions collectively defining inner and outer faces and inside and outside boundaries of said base plate;

    ii) a bezel extending outwardly from said base plate outer face about substantially the entire periphery of said base plate inside boundary, and having a top surface and inwardly and outwardly facing side surfaces, said inwardly facing side surface defining a first opening of substantially the same configuration and dimensions as said predetermined outline;

    iii) a second and a third opening in each of said top and bottom frame portions;

    b) a cover plate comprising;

    i) integrally formed top, bottom and side second frame portions collectively defining inner and outer faces and inside and outside boundaries of said cover plate;

    ii) a first lip portion extending outwardly from said cover plate inner face about substantially the entire periphery of said cover plate outside boundary, said first lip portion having an inner boundary encompassing said base plate outer boundary;

    iii) said inside boundary of said second frame portion defining a fourth opening of substantially the same configuration and dimensions as said outwardly facing wall of said bezel; and

    c) cooperative, first and second engagement means on said bezel outwardly facing side surface and said second frame portion inside boundary, respectively, for releasably retaining said base and cover plates in mutually engaged relation with said bezel extending through said fourth opening.

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